Sideways Goes Vertical

“Sideways” writer Rex Picket on his sequel to the smash book and movie.﻿

“Sideways,” released in 2004, is arguably the most influential wine-themed film in American history. It grossed $250 million, damaged Merlot’s reputation with a single line, and people are still debating whether the film alone caused Pinot Noir sales to spike, or was merely a factor in the variety’s astonishing success.

The film, directed by Alexander Payne, was based on a novel by the same name written by Rex Pickett, and his latest literary endeavor is the sequel, Vertical. The self-published novel will be available on Amazon.com in November. In his first interview about Vertical, Pickett talks to WE about the possibility of a follow-up movie and his tumultuous experiences post-Sideways success.”